Group starts work to secure future of historic observatory
(Published Monday, March 5, 2007 11:37:45 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Chris Schultz Gazette staff
WILLIAMS BAY-A group selected by the University of Chicago has started looking for a way to preserve the historical features of Yerkes Observatory while ensuring its financial future as an educational center.
The 10-member body, called the Yerkes Study Group, started meeting in early February and hopes to finish a proposal by June, said Richard Kron, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Chicago and the group's chairman.
The University of Chicago's Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics formed the study group to explore the best use of Yerkes Observatory as a site for a regional center for science education.
Members come from a variety of backgrounds and programs, including Aurora University and UW-Madison. Kron, a former Yerkes director, said the members were selected for their knowledge of the Williams Bay area, their education and their experience setting up educational facilities.
For now, meetings are behind closed doors, but Kron said the group is looking at ways to meet with local organizations, such as Yerkes 21, the Taxpayers of Williams Bay and the Geneva Lake Conservancy.
"We want to make a visit to those groups and say, 'What do you want?'" Kron said.
He said the group also would like to make regular updates to the Williams Bay Village Board.
The study group also is considering an open house or public presentation.
Yerkes opened in 1896 and is recognized as the world's first modern observatory.
The building also is an architectural masterpiece and home to the world's only 40-inch refracting (lens-based) telescope, which also is the world's largest refractor.
Modern astronomy now relies on reflecting telescopes, which rely on curved mirrors to focus light and can be made more powerful.
Observatories now are built high in the mountains, installed in aircraft, and even placed in orbit to avoid light pollution and atmospheric distortion.
Yerkes has reached a point of obsolescence as a cutting-edge research facility.
For the past two years, the University of Chicago had been seeking a way to preserve Yerkes while cutting it free from the university to become a stand-alone institution.
In June, the university brought in New York developer Mirbeau with a plan to turn 45 of the observatory's 80 acres into a luxury resort and housing development. Money from that development was to help pay for an educational program centered at the observatory.
The university and Mirbeau backed off after a series of overwhelmingly negative public hearings in Williams Bay during the summer.
In January, Henry S. Webber, the university's vice president for community and government affairs, told the Williams Bay Village Board he wanted to work with the community to find a new plan for the observatory.
The study group grew out of that meeting as proposed by Edward "Rocky" W. Kolb, chairman of astronomy and astrophysics at the university. The study group's report and recommendations will go to Kolb for review and evaluation, Kron said.
To learn more
The Yerkes Study Group Web site, yerkes.uchicago. edu/ysg, has information about the group and contact information for members.
